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Success has never stopped Yifei Li from striving for more. After completing an undergraduate finance degree in Shanghai, she gained industry experience through local internships before launching her first endeavor: a sushi shop.
Managing that operation was difficult and complicated for Li. But it made her understand that true knowledge and confidence are gained when real-world experience enhances lessons from coursework. She sought this in an advanced education—and found it at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.
Yifei Li. Photo by Adam Glanzman for Northeastern University
The 360 Huntington Fund immediately stood out to her. “When I told my friends that you can actually run a real mutual fund here, they couldn’t believe it,” she says. “They had never had that opportunity themselves.”
As an analyst in the fund, Li learned the responsibilities of running a real mutual fund. She analyzed the finances of a company and wrote original research reports about potential investments. By presenting investment recommendations to a panel of her peers, she gained what she considers the most valuable skill—the ability to confidently express her ideas.
Today, Li uses this skillset as an associate at an investment research services firm in Shanghai. Her clients are financial consulting firms and hedge funds.
At D’Amore-McKim in Boston, the 360 Huntington Fund could be one of the many ways you’ll amplify classroom learning through experiences. Landing a spot in the fund entails being able to complete project assignments related to the company you aspire to work for once you graduate.
To realize your entrepreneurial goals, explore IDEA, the Student-Led Venture Accelerator. IDEA provides support services at every stage of venture development—from strategizing business plans to providing prototype funding. D’Amore-McKim students are uniquely positioned to make an impact here. Since 2009, the accelerator has launched 96 ventures and raised over US$247 million in external funding.
Seed money is granted to those who have successfully pitched their idea—anything from a caffeinated energy bar to a solar-powered cell phone charging station—to an advisory panel of students, faculty, and program donors.
Li opted for D’Amore-McKim’s MS in Finance as her pathway to these real-world possibilities. The STEM-designated program equips learners with the financial knowledge, as well as technical and analytical expertise to thrive in the ever-evolving financial services industry.
Photo by Adam Glanzman for Northeastern University
Similar experiential opportunities can be unlocked through the customizable MS in Management (MS x) program. It’s designed to deepen your knowledge of relevant business practices and boost your appeal to today and tomorrow’s employers. The MS x can be a stepping stone to an eligible MBA, which allows students to join the Washington, DC Residency—an elective week-long residency that teaches how public policy affects the U.S. and global economies.
Meanwhile, the STEM-designated MS in Business Analytics program will prepare you to respond to challenges and innovate effective solutions—specifically by analyzing data and leveraging it to make business decisions. It’s an experiential program with more practice for you to gain through an optional graduate co-op—which allows you to apply classroom learnings to a project at a leading company or start-up.
If you’re an F-1 international MS x, MS in Finance or MS in Business Analytics student, Northeastern University’s Office of Global Services (OGS) offers resources and advice to help you maintain immigration compliance. MS in Finance or MS in Business Analytics student can apply for Curricular Practical Training authorization as well.
If you’re looking to add value to organizations in the U.S. and beyond, choose the MS in International Management. This program will prepare you with the multinational mindset and cultural agility needed to manage global teams and understand the nuances of supply chains and business issues that transcend national borders.
See how all of this comes together in a country abroad via the International Field Study—this year’s students immersed themselves in important international issues in Israel, Portugal, and Italy. Or tackle a real business challenge faced by a company aligned with your career aspirations with the “Make Your Case” consulting project. In the process, expect to build your storytelling and case-writing skills, finetune your problem-solving techniques, and network with inspiring leaders in your chosen industry.
For example, by writing a case study on a business in Barcelona that builds fire safety systems for companies across the globe, graduate Stephanie Manna determined whether the company should expand into the South African or the U.S. market.
“At the end of the project, I presented my analysis and recommendations to the owner as if I were her consultant,” says Manna. “This project wasn’t just a hypothetical exercise—it took my education to a whole new level of realness.”
At D’Amore-McKim, knowledge enlightens while experiences empower. To discover this powerful combination for yourself in bustling Boston, click here to apply.
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